The Commonly Confused Words Test - Answer Key

In response to popular demand, I created this answer key to my "The Commonly Confused Words Test", which can be found on the OKCupid website. Here, you will find the answers and explanations to each question. Each definition was pulled from Dictionary.com. If there is no explanation, the definitions speak for themselves.

Wednesday, March 09, 2005

PLEASE READ...

...THE "IT'S NOT MY FAULT" SECTION BEFORE YOU TAKE UP SPACE IN MY POSTS.I have deleted many posts because they either asked questions that are already explained in the "It's not my fault" section, or they are griping about what they got "wrong" when they actually got full points for the question, but there was a score generator error. No one wants to read through a bunch of posts that all ask the same question, in addition to the fact that it's a monopolizer of my time. Thank you!

Answer Key

Beginner Section1. The knot she tied was very __________.a. looseb. losec. Either a or bd. Neither a nor bThe correct answer is loose.Points: a=1, b=0, c=0, d=0Definitions:loose - adj. Not fastened, restrained, or containedlose- v. To be unsuccessful in retaining possession of; to fail; to rid oneself of; to suffer loss2. Take a deep __________.a. breathb. breathec. Either a or bd. Neither a nor bThe correct answer is breath.Points: a=1, b=0, c=0, d=0Explanation:Breath is a noun; breathe is a verb. If you use the word breathe, the "sentence" would contain two verbs and no noun and, therefore, would be incomplete. Take is an action verb. Breath is what is being taken here.

3. She has a __________ appetite.a. hardyb. heartyc. Either a or bd. Neither a nor bThe correct answer is hearty.Points: a=, b=1, c=0, d=0Definitions:hardy - being in robust and good sturdy health; courageoushearty - vigorous; robust4. I wish you would study for __________ test.a. you'reb. yourc. Either a or bd. Neither a nor bThe correct answer is your.Points: a=0, b=1, c=1, d=2Definitions:you're - contraction of you areyour - adj. used as a modifier before a noun; the possessive form of youExplanation:It is your test because you possess the test.Did you know? The word would [will] is an auxiliary verb, or helping verb. An auxiliary verb is a verb that accompanies the main verb in a clause and helps to make distinctions in mood, voice, aspect, or tense. In this sentence, study is the main verb, and would is helping distinguish tense. Study is a present tense verb. However, by using the auxiliary verb would before it, the tense is changed to future.5. He __________ to the banquet with Naomi and __________.a. gone / Ib. gone / mec. went / Id. went / meThe correct answer is went / me.Points: a=0, b=1, c=1, d=2Definitions:gone - v. past participle of gowent - v. past tense of goExplanation:Past participles are used for perfect forms of the verb. Perfect forms use auxiliary verbs before the main verb (See "Did you know?" in question 4's explanation). You can say "He had gone" or "He should have gone", but you cannot use the verb gone without an auxiliary verb. Went is simply past tense of the word go. Therefore, went is the correct choice.The words I and me can sometimes get confusing. There are two rules that make using these two words very simple.1) Never put yourself first.2) Remove the other person from the equation.In this sentence, remove Naomi. Would you say "He went to the banquet with I", or "He went to the banquet with me"? Me is the correct choice in this sentence.

6. __________ and __________ left at 7 o'clock.a. Her / Ib. Her / mec. She / Id. She / meThe correct answer is She / I.Points: a=1, b=0, c=2, d=1Definitions:her - pron. the objective case of sheshe - used to refer to a woman or girlExplanation:When there are two pronouns, split the pronoun, making two sentences using each pronoun alone. (See the Explanation in question 5.) "Her left at 7 o'clock" is incorrect. "She left at 7 o'clock" is correct. "I left at 7 o'clock" is correct. "Me left at 7 o'clock" is incorrect. Therefore, the correct answer is "She and I left at 7 o'clock."

7. __________ impolite to stare.a. It'sb. Itsc. Either a or bd. Neither a nor bThe correct answer is It's.Points: a=1, b=0, c=0, d-0Definitions:it's - contraction of it isits - possessive pronounExplanation:There is nothing in this sentence for it to possess. In addition, if you use the word its in this sentence, there would be no verb, which would make it an incomplete clause. "It is impolite to stare" is a complete sentence. Therefore it's is the correct choice.

8. __________ were 50 questions on __________ tests.a. Their / thereb. Their / they'rec. There / theird. There / they'reThe correct answer is There / their.Points: a=0, b=0, c=2, d=1Definitions:their - adj. the possessive form of they, used as a modifier before a nounthere - pron. used to introduce a clause or sentencethey're - contraction of they areExplanation:There is used to introduce a clause or sentence; therefore, the correct answer must be c or d. Their is an adjective modifying a noun. In this case, tests is the noun, and their describes whose tests. Therefore, the correct sentence is "There were 50 questions on their tests".

9. They finished before __________ time limit expired.a. his or herb. theirc. thered. they'reThe correct answer is their.Points: a=0, b=1, c=0, d=0Explanation:See Definitions and Explanation in question 8 for usage of the words their and there.

10. However, __________ smarter __________ you think.a. their / thanb. their / thenc. they're / thand. they're / thenThe correct answer is they're / than.Points: a=1, b=0, c=2, d=1Definitions:than is comparativethen is chronological or consequentialExplanation:See Definitions and Explanation in question 8 for usage of the words their and they're.In this sentence, we are comparing how smart they are and how smart you think they are, so we use the word than. Then is used when referring to time or consequences.Example:If you think there is going to be traffic, then leave sooner than you normally do."Then is referring to the consequences relating to traffic. Than is comparing leaving sooner and leaving when you normally do. Intermediate Section11. The __________ called the student into his office.a. principalb. principlec. Either a or bd. Neither a nor bThe correct answer isprincipal.Points: a=1, b=0, c=0, d=0Definitions:principal - n. one who holds a position of presiding rank, especially the head of an elementary school or high school. principle - n. a basic truth, law, or assumption12. A motivational speaker was __________ to boost __________.a. they're / moralb. they're / moralec. there / morald. there / moraleThe correct answer is there / morale.Points: a=0, b=1, c=1, d=2Definitions:moral - n. a concisely expressed precept or general truth; a maximmorale - n. he state of the spirits of a person or group as exhibited by confidence, cheerfulness, discipline, and willingness to perform assigned tasksSee Definitions and Explanation in question 8 for usage of the words they're and there.13. __________ the actor __________ wife is deaf?a. Who's / who'sb. Who's / whosec. Whose / who'sd. Whose / whoseThe correct answer is Who's / whose.Points: a=1, b=2, c=0, d=1Definitions:who's - contraction of who iswhose - the possessive form of who or whichExplanation:The subject of this sentence is who. If we answered the question with a complete sentence, we could say, "Bob is an actor, and his wife is deaf." Bob would be the subject of that sentence, and he possesses a deaf wife. Therefore, the correct sentence is, "Who's the actor whose wife is deaf?"14. It is difficult for her to __________ criticism.a. acceptb. exceptc. Either a or bd. Neither a nor bThe correct answer is accept.Points: a=1, b=0, c=0, d=0Definitions:accept - v. tr. to receive; to admit; to endure; to consentexcept - v. tr. to leave out

15. He did not deserve the __________ because he cheated.a. medalb. meddlec. metald. mettleThe correct answer is medal.Points: a=1, b=0, c=0, d=0Definitions:medal - n. a flat piece of metal stamped with a design or an inscription commemorating an event or a person, often given as an awardmeddle - v. interfere unwantedlymetal - n. any of a category of electropositive elements that usually have a shiny surface, are generally good conductors of heat and electricity, and can be melted or fused, hammered into thin sheets, or drawn into wiresmettle - n. courage and fortitude; spirit; inherent quality of character16. His employer __________ him two weeks late.a. paidb. payedc. Either a or bd. Neither a nor bThe correct answer is paid.Points: a=1, b=0, c=0, d=0Definitions:paid - past tense and past participle of pay - to give in exchange forpayed - past tense and past participle of pay - to let out by slackening; to coat or cover17. If you __________ keep arguing, I am going __________ get a headache!a. to / toob. too / toc. two / tod. two / tooThe correct answer is two / to.Points: a=0, b=1, c=2, d=1to - prep. in a direction toward so as to reachtoo - alsotwo - the number 2

18. In a lemon meringue pie recipe, you use both the egg whites and egg __________.a. yokesb. yolksc. Either a or bd. Neither a nor bThe correct answer is yolks.Points: a=0, b=1, c=0, d=0Definitions:yoke - n. something that connects or joins togetheryolk - n. the yellow portion of an egg of a bird or reptile19. He had __________ her on the street in the __________.a. passed / passedb. passed / pastc. past / passedd. past / pastThe correct answer is passed / past.Points: a=1, b=2, c=0, d=1Definitions:passed - v. past tense of pass - to go by; to go beyond; to go acrosspast - n. the time before the presentExplanation:He went by her on the street at some time before the present.20. Only bring the __________ essentials on this trip.a. bareb. bearc. Either a or bd. Neither a nor bThe correct answer is bare.Points: a=1, b=0, c=0, d=0Definitions:bare - adj. just sufficient; merebear - v. or n. with many different meaningsExplanation:In this sentence, the noun essentials is being described. Bare is describing what kind of essentials to bring on the trip. Bear is not an adjective, therefore it cannot be used to describe the noun essentials.

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Advanced Section

21. He did not know how to __________ her in that situation.a. adviceb. advisec. Either a or bd. Neither a nor bThe correct answer is advise.Points: a=0, b=1, c=0, d=0Definitions:advice - n. opinion about what could or should be done about a situation or problem; counseladvise - v. to offer advice to; counsel22. That rug will be a nice __________ to my living room furniture.a. complementb. complimentc. Either a or bd. Neither a nor bThe correct answer is complement.Points: a=1, b=0, c=0, d=0Definitions:complement - n. something added to complete or make perfectcompliment - n. an expression of praise, admiration, or congratulation

23. She had __________ the movie before he __________ it.a. saw / sawb. saw / seenc. seen / sawd. seen / seenThe correct answer is seen / saw.Points: a=1, b=0, c=2, d=1Definitions:saw - v. past tense of seeseen - v. past participle of seeExplanation:A past participle in perfect tense requires a helping verb, or auxiliary verb (had, in this case), and the pure past tense of a verb does not use auxiliary verbs. (About auxiliary verbs - see Did You Know? in question 4's Explanation)Resource(s):http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000319.htmhttp://www.usingenglish.com/glossary/past-participle.html24. That is an impressive hand-held __________.a. deviceb. devisec. Either a or bd. Neither a nor bThe correct answer is device.Points: a=1, b=0, c=0, d=0Definitions:device - n. a contrivance or invention serving a particular purposedevise - v. to design or contrive25. Speeding in your car is __________.a. riskyb. risquec. Either a or bd. Neither a nor bThe correct answer is risky.Points: a=1, b=0, c=0, d=0Definitions:risky - adj. accompanied by or involving risk or danger; hazardousrisque - suggestive of or bordering on indelicacy or impropriety; suggestive of sexual impropriety26. Her parents bought her the __________ __________ for school.a. necessarily / stationaryb. necessarily / stationeryc. necessary / stationaryd. necessary / stationeryThe correct answer is necessary / stationery.Points: a=0, b=1, c=1, d=2Definitions:necessarily - adv. of necessity; inevitablynecessary - adj. absolutely essentialstationary - adj. not moving; fixed; standing stillstationery - n. writing materials27. He is __________ every __________ of the situation.a. accessing / aspectb. accessing / respectc. assessing / aspectd. assessing / respect.The correct answer is assessing / aspect.Points: a=1, b=0, c=2, d=1Definitions:accessing - v. obtaining a means of approaching, entering, exiting, or communicating withassessing - v. determining the value, significance, or extent ofaspect - n. a way in which something can be viewedrespect - n. the state of being regarded with honor or esteem28. He will __________ her tomorrow.a. councilb. counselc. Either a or bd. Neither a nor bThe correct answer is counsel.Points: a=0, b=1, c=0, d=0Definitions:council - n. an assembly of persons called together for consultation, deliberation or discussioncounsel - v. to give or take advice29. I __________ you, this is the best policy to __________ your vehicle.a. assure / ensureb. assure / insurec. ensure / insured. insure / ensureThe correct answer is assure /insure.Points: a=1, b=2, c=1, d=0Definitions:assure - v. to inform positively, as to remove doubtensure - v. to make certain ofinsure - v. to provide or arrange insurance (a protective measure) for30. The salad is tasty__ however, the soup tastes even __________.a. : / bestb. : / betterc. ; / bestd. ; / betterThe correct answer is ; / better.Points: a=0, b=1, c=1, d=2Definitions:best - adj. superlative of good; surpassing all others in quality; most satisfactorybetter - adj. comparative of goodExplanation: A comma or a period would work after the word tasty, but the first part of this sentence tests your usage of the colon and the semicolon. A colon is used to introduce something. The first part of the sentence, the salad is tasty, is not introducing anything. It is just a statement. Here is an example of one way to properly use a colon: this sentence. Before the colon, I introduced you to the idea of an example, and after the colon, I gave you the example. A semicolon is used to connect two complete sentences. The taste of the salad and the taste of the soup are two separate ideas. Therefore, the semicolon is correct. "This sentence" is not a complete sentence, so you could not use a semicolon in the example sentence. You could, however, use a colon if the sentence was: "The salad was good, but there was something even better: the soup." I introduced the idea of something better, then after the colon, I told you what it was.The word best is superlative, being used in comparison to all others in a category, or at least more than two. Better is used when comparing two items.Resource(s):http://www.stpt.usf.edu/pms/colon.htmlhttp://www.stpt.usf.edu/pms/semicolon.html

Expert Section

31. They __________ her for murdering her children.a. hangedb. hungc. Either a or bd. Neither a nor bThe correct answer is hanged.Points: a=1, b=0, c=0, d=0Definitions:hanged - v. past tense of hang; to suspend by the neck until deadhung - v. past tense of hang; to fasten from above with no support from belowHanged is used when referring to death by hanging. Hung is used in all other senses of the word.Resource(s): See Usage Note for hang' a-ble adj. on the following webpage:http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=hung32. The bombing had an adverse __________ on __________ issues.a. affect / economicb. affect / economicalc. effect / economicd. effect / economicalThe correct answer is effect / economic.Points: a=1, b=0, c=2, d=1Definitions:affect - n. feeling or emotioneffect - n. something brought about by a cause or agent; a resulteconomic - adj. of or relating to an ecomomyeconomical - adj. prudent and thrifty in management; not wasteful or extravagantExplanation:Here's a little hint: when the word on is after affect/effect, the correct word is alwayseffect.33. Please stay __________a. a whileb. awhilec. for a whiled. All of the aboveThe correct answer is All of the above.Points: a=1, b=1, c=1, d=3Definitions:awhile - adv. for a short timewhile - n. a period of timeExplanation:Because the word awhile is an adverb, it cannot be used in a prepositional phrase. "for awhile" would be incorrect. Since while is a noun, it can be used with or without the preposition for. Therefore, all three are correct.Resource(s):http://www.wsu.edu/%7Ebrians/errors/awhile.html34. He is __________ along in his academic program __________ he thought.a. farther / thanb. farther / thenc. further / thand. further / thenThe correct answer is further / than.Points: a=1, b=0, c=2, d=1Explanation:farther - comparative used for physcial distancefurther - comparative used for nonphysical, metaphorical advancementSee usage notes: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=farther35. She complains to __________ will listen.a. whoeverb. whomeverc. Either a or bd. Neither a nor bThe correct answer is whomever.Points: a=0, b=1, c=0, d=0Definitions:who - pron. which person - used subjectivelywhom - pron. the objective case of whoExplanation:Whom is always used when it is the object of a preposition. Who is used as a suject and when a pronoun such as I or he could replace who. Here is an easy little trick to differentiate between who and whom: Replace the questionable word with he or him. If you would replace it with he, use who. If you would replace it with him, use whom.Examples:She complains to ___. You would fill in the blank with him, but you couldn't use he, so the use whom.___ complains to him. You will fill in this blank with he, not him, so use who.Who complains to whom? She complains to him. Very simply put:Who = HeWhom = HimUsage Note on the following webpage: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=whohttp://www.wsu.edu/%7Ebrians/errors/awhile.html36. __________ travel makes me sick to my stomach!a. Navalb. Navelc. Either a or bd. Neither a nor bThe correct answer is Naval.Points: a=0, b=1, c=0, d=0Definitions:Navel - n. the mark on the surface of the abdomen where the umbilical cord was attached; bellybuttonNaval - adj. of or relating to ships or a navy37. The amazing still flight of the hummingbird is a natural __________.a. phenomenab. phenomenonc. Either a or bd. Neither a nor bThe correct answer is phenomenon.Points: a=0, b=1, c=0, d=0Definitions:phenomena - n. plural of phenomenonphenomenon - n. an occurrence, circumstance, or fact that is perceptible by the senses38. She has a __________ for gardening.a. flairb. flarec. Either a or bd. Neither a nor bThe correct answer is flair.Points: a=1, b=0, c=0, d=0Definitions:flair - n. a natural talent or aptitudeflare - n. to flame up with a bright, wavering light; a device that produces a bright light

Wednesday, March 02, 2005

It's not my fault!

Regarding your results pageThis is how it works: I wrote the questions, and I assigned points to each correct question. The program (or whatever it is called) on OKCupid calculates your score based on your answers and the points that I assigned to each answer. Sometimes its calculations are wrong, giving you 0% when you answered all of them correctly in reality. I am very sorry about this; however, there is nothing I can do about it! That is one of the main reasons I created this blog - so you can check your answers. Please don't get mad at me and post the fact that OKCupid scored your test wrong.Additional Information on Pointing: Some questions receive 1 point while others receive 2. The points for each question are listed in the Answer Key. That is how you can receive a score of something other than a multiple of 10 in a 10-question section.